Boiler-keir.



lPateilted Jan, 22

1918. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

K. MURAL BOILER KEIH. APPLICATION FILED )UNE 30, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z- lPatented Jan. 22, 1918..

K. MURAL BOILER KEIR. APPLICATION FILED JUNESO, I9I7.

1 2 MB Patented M22, 19.1

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

K. MURAL BOILER KEIR. APPLICATION FILED :um: 30. 1917.

61: form: 1.4

Patented 1m 22, 1918.

KO MURAL OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BOILER-KEIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, tfilld.

application filed June 30, 1917. Serial No. 178,047.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, K0 lilmzar, a subject of the Empire of Japan, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Keirs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the treatment of fibrous plants to obtain the fibers therefrom, and has particular reference to a boiling keir in which the plants are treated to a chemical process for the purpose of removing gummy or ligneous and other foreign matters from the'fibers, and also to a container or basket in which the plants are packed for treatment in the keir.

In the extraction of fibers from plants, the method usually employed is to subject the plants to a crushing and rolling action so as to loosen or break the gummy or ligneous matters which cement the fibers together and mechanically separate the fibers as much as practical. The fibers are then boiled in a water or chemical bath so as to remove the gummy matters and all foreign impurities. After further treatment, the extent and refinement of which depends upon the plant being treated, and the use to which it is applied, the fibers are in a condition to be made up into cord-age, rough fabrics, and the like.

The present invention has as its objects to provide an improved tank or keir in which the crushed plants are to be boiled, and while my apparatus may be employed in the treatment of any plant from which fibers may be obtained, it is particularly adapted for use in connection with plants commonly known as tule, or bullrush, and which plants belong to the Scz'rpus family. My improved keir is very simple in construction, and may be economically manufactured and installed. It is etlicient in operation, and the plants packed in my improved container or basket, herein described, may be easily and quickly placed into and removed from the keir.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved basket or container for receiving the plants to be treated in the keir. The arrangement of the basket is such that it will accommodate fibers of the longest length without the necessity of cutting the fibers into predetermined lengths, and

the fibers may be so packed within thecon- I tainer that they cannot become entangled during the boiling operation.

The above and other objects of my invention are obtained in the apparatus described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my improved keir.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereofr Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the false bottom located within the boiling tank.

Fig. 4c is a vertical transverse section taken through the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 4, and shows the means for raising and lowering the baskets within the boiling tank.

Fig. (3 is a top plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken through the central portion of the cover of the tank, and showing the manner of mounting a spraying device through which water or a chemical solution is admitted to the tank.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a screw plug for closing the opening occupied by the nozzle in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the framework of the basket.

Fig. 11 is a plan elevation of the cover of the basket.

Fig. 1-2 is a perspective fragmentary view of the basket, showing one of the partitions thereof.

Fig. 13 is a top plan diagrammatical view of the basket, showing the particular arrangement of the partitions.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts in the several views, 10 designates a boiling tank which is preferably circular in cross-section and constructed of wood, so that it may be easily transported, and the first cost of production is at a minimum. The tank may be surrounded by removable iron bands 11, and, of course, any number of such bands may be employed.

The bottom of the tank is designated by the numeral 12, and as noted in Figs. l and 5, the bottom is dish shaped, and has at its edge an upstanding flange provided with annular groove 13 in which the lower ends of the boards or planks, of which the body portion of the tank is constructed, engage. By this arrangement, a water-tight joint is provided between "the sidewalls and the bottom of the tank for the wooden sides will expand and completely fill the groove l3.- The tank 10 rests upon the furnace,

structure 14:, the walls of which are preferably ofbrick, and the flames of thefurnac'e are adapted to directly heat the iron bottom l2, so that 'an economy'in fuelis-obtained. The furnace is provided with-the usual doors 15for charging of the-furnace and removing ashes therefrom, and a-flne" 16,-opening'through the rear wall of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 1, is providedfor carrying off smoke and products'of co'nrbastion;

' Located within the tank is a fa'lse bottom' 17 comprising a-disk of preferablythe same diameter as the internal diameter of the tank soas to rest upon the ledge provided by'the-upstanding flange of 'the ir'onor metal bottom"12. The falsebottomis-pre- V fer'ably constructedof wood having reinforcing ironmembers 18. hasa central' ope'ning l9 and a number of spaced hcles "20',"soas to prevent localiza ti'on of thehtat and consequently impairment of the plants lowered to the bottonrof' the tank: The openings in the false bottom 1? permit the water or chemical solution within the tank to c1rculate,"and the heat is thus'equ'ally distributed; 7

Thetankis covered'wi'th a top 21prefe'rably constructed of wood, and reinforced by means of an iron frame 22. Theftop is secured in place by means ofpivo'tedlatches 23,which' carryat their lower ends" handles 24: whereby-the links are adapted to-be screw-threaded into the central opening,'

and, if desired, the'plug may havea packing-gland as'sl'iown, so as to insure'ag'ainst leakageof"vapor or steam. Thepassage-f way within the noz'zleis preferably coiled" as"shownin-l*ig. 8. It is tobe understood that when filling the tank with'the solution or water, the nozzle is employed; and'dur ing'thej boiling operation the nozzle'isremoved'and a plug, such as shown in Fig. 9, isinser'ted in the centrally disposed openingvof the top. tion, pressurewithin the tank is increased, andto prevent excessive pressure," a safety The bottom 17 i During the boiling opera-' valve 30 is provided in the top of the tank, andthis safety device may be of any suitable"construction, and'as the specific con struction thereof comprises no part of this invention, I have shown it more or less conventionally.

Located "Within the tank anddisp'osed diametrically= opposite to each other are channel irons 31 secured adjacent their 0pposite ends, to bands1L pa-ssin'g abouttheinner-periphery of the tank. The channel irons --ma y-,"of 'course, be constructed of a single piece or m'a'y "be built up, as: desired Within the channeljirons and adj aeent their UPPCI-"fllld lower ends are mounted "sp rocket wheels 32 about which?pass 'chains means of which the con-t'ainers or I baskets, hereinafter described, -are="adapted t-o be low'eredandraised withinthe tank.

Fonthe purposeof causing 1 the chains; to '85 travel over their sprocket wheel's when rais ing 1 and lowering the baskets, I have shown ea'chof the upper sprockets-32 as mounted upon" a sh'aft 33 carrying at is outer end a bevel gear ae'meshing with-a bevel gear carried by a shaft 35 rotatably mounted within the bracket 3 6 The shaft; on which tl'ie gcaris monnte'd, =carries a sprocket: 7 wheel 37 wl'1ich is co'nnectecl-byimeans of a canines to a sprocketwheelfi) carried 'uponan operating'shaft 40. Theoperating shaft 40 t extends thi'oughan opening in the wall oftlie tank,'-asjsh0wn in Fig.6; and car ries at'its outer end anoperjating handle orwheel nisi'n byfreta'ting 'tli e-w'heels ll, r0t-a-ry'm'o ti'on will be-"impa-rtedg through theachai n and-i gear I mechanisms described to the I sprocketwheels 32"about which-the chains 33 pass? Fonthe purpose of -locking thechains in adjusted position, the shafts upon which 1 the; sprocket wheels are =-=mounted carry ratchet wheel s42 which are held again'st' ro-' tationbya awl 43. V

The-tanks-are adapted to be changed and 7110 opera't'cd frem an -elevate'df latform; orin I an especially constructedbuildi-ngfthe' tank may be operated front the-' second floorz" Extending between the chains-are rods- H from-"which the baskets are suspended, and these rods are preferably constructed of two I strips secured to ether 'by loops 45 and the rods i are 1 curved 'or bent intermediate their ends as at l6,-so as-to'cqnally *distributethe heat I a Ill Figs. 11' to 13; 'l have shown one "form: of basket, in which theJfibe'rs are to be packed. and which is to be suspended from the rods 4l,-as =shown-in 1 ig.',:4l; 1 Each of' the baskets is" cylindrical inwform, and the 1'25 outside"diameter-cr me same is such that sufii'i'ent space is provided between the bas= ke't and the Walls of the -tank 1O toipermit circulation -of the boiling-solution! T he'ba sket has a body '"'p'ort'i'on; comprising a bot 'l3 0 tom '48 and cylindrical walls 49, and is formed of a skeleton framework of heavy wire or light steel rods covered with a wire netting or a screen 50. The removable top 51 of the basket, shown in Fig. 11, is also formed of a wire framework covered with a netting or screen. Located centrally of the basket isa through opening 52 to insure a complete circulation of the boiling fluid within the tank. \Vithin the body portion, of the basket and equally dividing the same into two chambers, is a transverse wall 53, along theupper edge of which are disposed hooks 54, by means of which the basket is suspended from the rods4 l. The cover 51 carries hooks 55, by means of which the cover is secured in place upon the body portion. The container or basket is divided by partitions 56, which are clearly shown in Fi 12. These partitions are curved concentrically to the walls 49 of the container and are covered with a wirenetting 57. Each of the partitions is connected at one end to the transverse wall 53, but terminates at its other end short of the transverse wall. Interpcsed between the curved partitions which are connected to the transverse wall at one side of the central opening 52 are the ends of the curved partitions connected to the transverse wall at the other side of the central opening 52. It will thus be seen that alternate partitions located to one side of the transverse wall, are connected thereto, to the left-hand side of the opening 52, and that the intervening partitions are connected to the transverse wall, at the right-hand side of the central opening. By this construction, the fibers may be closely packed within the container without cutting the fibers into different lengths, and this is true, although the fibers be longer than usual. The fibers may be packed as shown in Fig. 13, in the space between two of the partitions and then bent around the end of one of the partitions and into the space between that partition and the next partition.

The arrangement of partitions in the cage or basket prevents the entanglement of the fibers, which now usually occurs during the boiling process, and the necessity of later treating the fibers so as to untangle them is obviated. The plants are to be charged into the basket as compactly as possible for they decrease in size when boiled, and have a tendency to travel with the force of the boiling water.

It is to be understood that, while I have described my invention as being particularly adapted for the treatment of fibrous plants to obtain the fibers therefrom, it may be utilized for other purposes, such, for instance, as bleaching fibrous substances, or for the boiling of paper pulp. My invention is susceptible of various modifications and changes which would be within the spirit of the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

W'hat I claim is 1. In a boiler keir, a tank, endless chains mounted within and at opposite sides of said tank, rods between said chains from which the material treated is suspended, and means for operating said chains to raise and lower the rods.

2. In a boiler keir, a vertical tank having a. removable top, endless chains located within and at opposite sides of said keir, rods extending between said chains and from which the material to be treated is suspended, sprocket wheels about. which said chains pass, and means for rotating said sprocket wheels and actuating said chains to raise and lower said rods.

3. In a boiler keir, a vertical tank having a removable top, endless chains located within and at opposite sides of said tank, rods between said chains from which the material to be treated is suspended, and an operating mechanism for each of said chains comprising a sprocket wheel over which a chain passes, a rotatable shaft on which said sprocket wheel is mounted, a gear on said shaft, a second shaft, av gear mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a sprocket wheel on said second-mentioned shaft, an operating shaft, a sprocket wheel on said operating shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket wheels on said operating shaft and said second shaft, and a handle for rotating said operating shaft.

4t. In a boiler keir, a vertical tank having a removable top, channel bars located within and at opposite sides of said tank, sprocket wheels mounted. in the upper and lower ends of said channel bars, a chain in each of said channel bars passing about said sprocket wheels, rods between said chains from which the material to be treated is sus pended, and means for actuating said sprocket wheels to cause said chains to travel and thus raise and lower said rods within the tank.

5. In a boiler keir, a tank having a metallic imperforate bottom provided with an. upstanding circumferential flange, an annular channel. in said flange, and vertical sides constructed of wood planks, the lower ends of which engage in said groove so that the wood will swell to form a tight joint between the sides of the tank and the bottom thereof; a removable top for said tank; and means for raising and lowering materials to be treated within said tank.

6. In a boiler keir, a furnace, a tank lo cated upon said furnace and having a metallic bottom adapted to be directly heated by the flames of said furnace, a false bottom within said tank having a plurality of openings to permit circulation of the treating solution and distributiom of the: heat, a re-*- I movable f top 1' for said. tank, and means :for

raising and lowering the mate'rial treated Within said :tank.--.

7. In a (boiler 'keirgz'a ftirnace*,; a itankupon said furnace and having a::metallic 'imper-r forate "bottom :directly heated hy the flames. of? said furnace, a. false. bottom" within the.

tank having a plurality. of openings to per-- 'm'itici-rcu'lation of the treatingtfiuid and distIlbLlt-lOIIJOf the heat, endless chains. within and located at opposite :sides of said tank;

means for suspendin g FthewmateriaI treated fr'oin said chains, means for causing :said

saii datank;

8. In a boiler keir, a furnaceya itank' lm cated upon said'ifurnace and adapted to-be directly heated by the fiames-thereoflimeans S chainstof travel sto raise and lower the mate-"=- rial': to he treated, and a :removable top for.

for raising: and loweringthe materials to Joe-:-

treated within' said-itank, a 'rem'0vable top for closing said tank andmhavinga central' opening; and a nozzle" Within said j-opening forisprayingvthe.treating fluid into said:

tank, means for se'curingsaidfltop in position,'..a nozzle adapted to extendthroughan:

Topeningin saidetop vl:'or-s1;)raying the treating fluid into said tank, and a safetyvalve carried by the :top to prevent excessive :pres- 7 sure within :saidtanks 10..' -A basket for ."boiler keirs; comprising- 2 a ::fra-mework, zand partitions therein, there" being a an riopem space .at: one endzof each "of said partitionse to permit the: filters 'FtO .-be'-' treated .flto' the: "b entlfaround ethez; ends= ofithe: partitions;

ll A-" 'basket:forboiler keirs, comprising-45 a framework :and partitions tl1erein,;the o pposite'eendsxof adjacent partitions: beingLin. spaced relation to said framework 8011513 to permit: the: :fihers to -:;be itreatedsfito I bBbHli' about the GI'IClS-UOfE'flIG partitionsr-e 12; A sbasketaforyboilertkeirs :comprising; a .cylindriciallye-rshapediframewcrkrand cons:- centric:2partitionsi withiiresaitl framework; the: adjacent. partitions terminating; short:

at-ithein opposite 1 :ends 20f said: ;frame.svork :5 5

so as to provideaspacesrandapermit; the fibers 7 treated to beebentvahout thesendsr of the par; titionsn V V p 13; A basket: fornboil'er -keirs' comprising a. wcylindrically-shaped Eframeavorlqs a ;'-tI'lI1S verseawall; andcconcentric partitionson the opposite sides: ofsaid transverse Wall, ialters na-te concentric; partitions terminating shortat: 'one :endqofsaid; transverse; :Wal'lv and in-1H tervening spartitions terminating shorti at the .65 other end of "said: transverseiwalL, v.

14.1 A basket for: boileriikeirs" comprising? a framework;reticulated materialefor cover 7 ing said Yfr-amewerk, a- ,"transverse wall; in;- said frameworkaandcurved-1partitions con; neoted Pat one wend- .to'rsaid :transversewwall andriterminating' at their g other "ends shortthereof, adjacentpartitions;.=being connected l atx-opposite-zends 'of isaid transverse wal'l'.

In testimonywvhereofl have-hereunto Set/ 275 my hand;

KOJMURAIJL c5 1 ,ot-thlsipatent.may-5beaobtained fori five cents each.:'by--addressing i of Emma? Washington-,JJOiF V 

